Herding Dogs - Canada's Guide to Dogs Herding Dogs Herding Dogs General Info / Articles of Interest Herding livestock is one of the oldest jobs for dogs. There are many breeds of herding dogs as well as many styles of herding. For example, the Border Collie commonly when herding sheep, uses what is called "the eye" to work  a glare which asserts their dominance over the sheep, others are well known for their ability to dart in and nip the heels of cattle. Stockdogs are used on many farms and ranches and mostly to work with cattle and sheep. Today, herding dogs are also seen competing in Herding Trials all over the world. Quite often the people participating in this sport are not involved in the livestock industry but have an interest in working with their dogs to help preserve the instincts and abilities of the herding breeds. For additional information on Herding Trials see the Herding/Stock Dog document which outlines the various trials and tests. Herding/Stock Dog  Including information on Herding Instinct Test and Herding Trials. Another Yellow Brick Road  by Meredith Moore. The continuation of Raff's story.

Terminology: "Fetching" or "Gathering"  British Herding dogs, such as: Border Collies ; Bearded Collies ; English Sheepdogs ; Rough and Smooth Collies ; and Shetland Sheepdogs generally work over large areas of land where the dog's main role is to "fetch" or "gather" the sheep. To fetch is the natural instinct for most herding dogs. When gathering, the dog is trying to keep the livestock together in a group. "Boundary" or "Continental"  Continental Herding Dogs, including: German Shepherd Dogs ; Bouviers des Flandres ; and Belgian Sheepdogs often work on the smaller farms found in Continental Europe where the sheep graze in pastures right next to crop fields. These herding dogs are responsible for patrolling the boundaries to protect the crops from the sheep as well as to protect the sheep from predators. All Continental herding breeds have very strong protective instincts. Cattle Dogs  There are many different breeds used all over the world to help move a herd, the most common include: Australian Cattle Dogs ; Australian Shepherds ; and Border Collies .

These dogs drive a herd, often biting on the heels if necessary, and move the cattle until they settle. Most often, cattle dogs work the livestock from behind by "heeling". Cattle herding dogs are known to be very intelligent, courageous, trustworthy, and have a strong desire to work. They are also very protective of their family and property. "Driving"  Dogs who drive the livestock are pushing the herd away from the handler. (Still under development - more terms coming soon) Herding Breeds: The Canadian Kennel Club and/or the American Kennel Club include the following breeds in the "Herding Group": Farm dogs, Trial dogs. Farm Dogs, Trial Dogs. There are a number of farmers in Western Australia who both trial their dogs and do farm work. I have spoken to some of them who admit it is difficult to get a dog to be the best at both. This is more the case for three sheep trialing wheras in Utility trialing a more farm type of dog is favoured and many of the top three sheepers do not do utility or yard trials. Most farmers who trial will look for a dog who will be a farm dog first as well as always being aware of what is needed in a trial dog.

So a good farm dog, who may have some problem which will lose points on the trial ground, such as a turn tail or lack of a good cast will not make a great trial dog, and may not be retained. A lot of farmers will allow their dogs to work on the farm for a while before they do any trialing. This can settle a full on type of dog but also can have its down side in that the dogs can develop some bad habits along the way. For experienced handlers this is probably not too much of a problem but others need to be aware of certain things like allowing the dog to cross when he can easily go behind us. While doing farm work it is not always practical to make the dog go right around behind us if the sheep are a bit of a distance away on a drive, or on a long cast. Or if the sheep suddenly turn and race the wrong way or string out along a fence it is far easier for the dog to cross to cover them. Most farmers say that once the dog is quite mature ie. getting to 4 or 5 years old, they learn the difference between farm work and trial work and adapt to the situation.

There are a number of people who just trial as a sport and don’t do farm work. These dogs will always excell at trialing as that is all they do and they dont learn to cross, slice or otherwise do things which are handy on a farm dog but not neccessary in a trial dog. If anyone has tried to turn a large mob of sheep which are running flat out then a slice and often a bark is an important tool. A dog which casts out really wide and tries to stop in front and head the sheep may only succeed in being run over or splitting the sheep up unless he is a very strong dog. Some bounce can be a help too. My Driftz is a great bouncer, handy on the farm but a bit of a disaster on the trial ground. It can be frustrating having a dog you know is a great farm dog but all people ever see on the trial ground is a full on, bouncing dog who doesen’t always listen to commands. We know their real abilities however, and to me it is more satisfying having completed a hard day on the farm with your dog than putting on a good show on the trial ground.

(Admittedly though it would be nice to do both and we all aim for that in our dogs.) To me utitily work is important and after getting a mob in out of the paddock I dont want to have to go and change dogs to draft out or yard the sheep (unless the dogs are worn out) so like to use the same dogs. Most dogs will be better at one than the other so we utilize their strengths and work around their weaknesses. Lara is better in the paddock and better on ewes and lambs so I use her mostly for these jobs. Driftz is good at both but a bit too pushy on wild sheep and better on hoggets or dry sheep. Rio and Angel are both calm wide workers better on wild sheep or just for moving a mob a long way slowly. If I needed to get the job done in a hurry I would also bring a dog to push them along a bit as well as a dog like Rio to cover out wide. Lara is good in the yard just to keep the back held up as is Rio, whereas Driftz and Caleb will work the sides or back them to keep them moving. So different dogs for different jobs. Wheras a trial dog is just that.

People who select just for three sheep trial work will choose a dog who works wide and calm naturally, is biddable, gets on with the sheep and can be placed wherever they want to place them. Some of these dogs can lack strength on a trial ground where the sheep are strong and can find it difficult to move the sheep around. Most handlers will train these dogs to do a strong walk up in a race or similar but a lot of the time it is not naturally in the dog and the dog can look good on the trial ground but lack genuine strength, and so may not cope on a farm. Some trialers will admit their nice trial dogs would not be much good on a farm. Some people have even suggested that we have segerate these ‘trial dogs’ from the farm dogs but this would be too difficult. Some good trial dogs never get the chance to do farm work so wether they would handle it is never known. Strength on a few sheep or on a one on one situation is very different to moving a big mob though. I have seen dogs who appeared really strong turn and run when faced with a mob of stampeding sheep. I have found that time and experience teach the dog how best to move big mobs.

Young sheep can be tricky in that they will turn and face the dog or even run up to the dog as they are often curious. So a dog needs to be able to walk towards the sheep to get them moving. Utility trialing was developed to more closely resemble farm work, but unfortunately along the way too many rules and regulations were introduced and the course became simple enough that a weaker type of dog could win here and yet still not be considered a good farm dog. This is not the case for all dogs though, as many that win in utility are indeed top farm dogs. Here in WA we rarely have straight yard trials as they do in the Eastern States. Over there a specialized type of dog is used for these trials which is bred and trained just for yard work. This is fine for these events but unfortunatly these dogs are short heading in the paddock and a lot of casting ability or other paddock traits have been bred out. This is such a shame as the true utility dog is the utmost dog in my opinion. Farm dogs need to show initiative in their work, we dont want to be commanding their every move, so allow them to do what needs to be done. On the trial ground of course this does not always work.

So the dog needs to understand that trialing is different and adjust accordingly, but this will take time. With farm work the dogs do learn how to work independently, read stock and cope with all sorts of different situations. There is a lot more to a farm dog though, than just the right ability. They must work ewes and lambs, rams, very big mobs or just a few, work in hilly rocky ground often where the sheep are out of sight, push sheep over creeks etc. and also work with a number of other dogs. Dogs that ride happily on a motor bike are an assett. There are some dogs who seem to be born with an innate fear of bikes which makes it hard to teach them to ride one. I have found that this is more the case with Border Collies, Kelpies seem to naturally enjoy bike riding. A farm dog must also deal with stressful situations, when the sheep need to be yarded quickly, it is hot and dusty and everyone is bad tempered. Stamina being an important issue here.

There is a world of difference between doing a 15 min trial and working all day in the heat, but if your dog has never done it there is no indication of how much stamina the dog has, or wether his constitution will cope with this. Also a good farm dog has to be able to jump fences easily, wire or wood. One can’t be opening gates all the time, and also if the sheep have bolted along the fence it is sometimes easier if the dog can jump over the fence and get to the front to head them. And when moving a mob through a gate if the sheep turn and race the wrong way and you cannot get past due to the gateway being blocked by the sheep, it is useful if the dog can go over the fence to head them back before they go too far and perhaps mix with another mob. So to breed a dog that is a good utility farm dog and also good on the trial ground is the aim here. Dogs that are from proven utility lines will always have value as a farm dog. Most farmers in my district want a utility type of dog that has a leaning more to yard work.

If we breed just for the trial ground then the ‘extra’ pups from these litters are of little use for the average farmer, so it is important to keep the ‘farmdog’ in the lines. Admittedly some farmers may require a more paddocky type of dog but mostly they seem to prefer to use bikes to bring in the mobs. To me the bike is a mode of transport to get to where the mob is and the dogs do most of the work. But I prefer not to rush the sheep, whereas some farmers are always in a hurry to yard the mob. I know of some of the more trialing bred pups that have gone to sporting (agility etc) or pet homes which is ok in my opinion, but to market dogs such as these to farmers can cause them to lose faith in buying from people who trial their dogs. Off course there are always exceptions. I recently sold a pup that should have been soft, and slow maturing ( by this I mean probably not as full on as a farmer might require or as early starting) to a farmer after explaining to him it may be a while before it is working well. Anyway at three months he is already using it in the yard and it appears very forward and keen.

But the farming bloodlines are in the dog and as long as we don’t breed them out completely the dogs will still have that ability. It is hard to choose the more trialing type of pup until we see them work and as we cannot run them all on we keep a couple and make our selection. I always offer money back or find a replacement if the pup I sold to a farmer turns out unsuitable for his needs. In this way I may end up with a pup that is more trially and the farmer does not have to shoot the pup or rehome him to a more unsuitable place. Temperament in our dogs too must be considered as a lot of farmers have young families. To me a dog that is the best farm dog/trial dog in the world is of no use if he bites kids or strangers although I guess some people will cope with this if the dog was strictly a trial dog and had no interaction with children. Still to me I want to be able to trust my dog with anyone. Some dogs are very dog aggressive also a problem on a farm but not so much on a trial ground as long as it is kept away from other dogs. Also something to note is that all farms are different.

The type of dog I need for my farm will be different to the type another farmer may require. We breed big strong sheep who often require some strength to move them but can also be a bit wild. So the dog at his first time on the trial ground may treat the trial sheep like the ones he has worked at home with ordinary results. So only by trialing at a lot of venues will he learn to cope with different sheep. Also training at other places is of benefit. And speaking from my own point of view, and perhaps from others as well, my dogs are great farm dogs but would most definately be better trial dogs if I was dedicated enough and had the spare time to finish them off. I tend to get them to great farm dog stage and don’t do the extra that is required to turn them into good trial dogs as well. It is harder if you have children etc or are busy working but I suppose if I was a really dedicated trialer I would do the extra. Perhaps one day when I am retired. (one can dream) Sheep 101: Herding Dogs A shepherd's best friend Going to the dogs There are two types of dogs used on sheep farms: herding dogs and guardian dogs.

Herding dogs are used to manage sheep. They are also called stockdogs or working dogs. Guardian dogs are used to protect sheep from predators. Learn about guardian dogs => Partnership A well-trained herding dog works in partnership with its handler and obeys commands to perform its job. Properly trained, the dog is able to move the sheep just about anywhere. Good herding dogs control sheep with calm authority and without excessive "commotion." A poorly trained dog has the opposite effect on the sheep. Breeds Not just any breed of dog is used for herding. Common herding breeds include the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Australian Kelpie, New Zealand Huntaway, and Australian Cattle Dog. Other breeds with herding instinct include Corgis and Shetland Sheepdogs. The Border Collie The most popular breed of herding dog in the U.S. is the Border Collie.The Border Collie originated in the border country between England and Scotland. It is considered the world's premier sheep herding dog. The Border Collie is noted for its intelligence, work ethic, and desire to please. Since Border Collies are bred for working ability and intelligence rather than for physical beauty, conformation varies widely.

For the love of dogs Many people get their start raising sheep because of their love and interest in training herding dogs. They raise sheep so that their dogs have sheep to work. Some people keep flocks of mosty wethers whereas others develop productive sheep flocks that they simultaneously use to work their dogs. Not ideal pets Border Collies are not ideal pets for people who have no plans to spend a lot of time with them. These dogs are too intelligent to lie around the house all day with nothing to do. These lively little dogs have boundless energy and thrive on hard work and play. Prospective owners who are looking for just a family pet should consider other similar, but calmer breeds, like show line Australian Shepherds and Shetland Sheepdogs. An intelligent dog One of the most trainable breeds, the Border Collie also serves well as a narcotics and bomb detection dog and is a frequent high performer in obedience, agility, Frisbee(TM) trials, police work, search & rescue, Flyball, performing tricks, and competitive obedience. Nation Valley Sheepdog Trial Course Description & Sheep Nation Valley Sheepdog Trials Course description and Sheep The Novice Course consists of Outrun, Lift, Fetch, Wear and Pen.

The Outrun will be app 90 yards. The ProNovice Course will have a longer outrun plus there will be short cross-drive of about 30 yards. The Ranch, USBCHA Nursery will be same as Open but without a shed. The Open will be an ISDS style National course. We shall run either 3 of 4 sheep per dog. With three there will be a "single" after the pen with four there might be a "single" after the pen or a "split" before the pen. Our fields are very flat, this makes the line for the crossdrive quite difficult. We normally set out our sheep for open class at about 350 to 400 yards. Our sheep are a commercial flock . They are mostly North Country Cheviots with outcrossing to different rams for productivity. Rams used were North Countries, Border Leicesters, East Friesian, Dorper. They are worked all year with dogs but mostly in large groups and they have never really shown any tendency to become "dogged". If treated well they work well but they will test a dog and exploit any weakness.

Back to NationValleySheepdogTrials page Back to Navall Farm Homepage Border Collie Page General Information about Sheepdog Trials The purpose of a sheepdog trial is to test the dog's (and handler's) ability to work sheep effectively. To that end many years ago some British farmers and shepherds devised a course that through different phases thoroughly tests a dogs ability to function on a stockfarm as a valuable partner to the shepherd, helping him or her in all aspects of livestock handling. These ISDS (International Sheepdog Society ) trials test both the natural ability of the dog and the level of training the dog has received and mastered. There are many good dogs out there that do not trial but many of them do not have the makeup that lets them accept highly refined training and will never achieve that high degree of precision that is important in a good trial dog. While they can make super workmates on the farm quite often there will come a moment when they "know better" than their master. Most times this will not matter too much but at some critical moments that could spell disaster. To best assess a dog's worth one should see the dog both in working situation and on the trial field.

If in doubt I would always prefer to assess a dog on the trial field. There I can see how (s)he manages the stock and by watching other runs can form an opinion about the natural ability and about the biddable nature of the dog. With some experience such a setting allows one to assess a dog quite accurately as one also can make allowances for the skill of the handler. This is the reason that trials became such an important part of the shepherd and farmers decision making process for choosing pups and potential studs. ISDS trials are now run in most sheep producing countries of the world. Every year ISDS holds an International Competition. In this competition 15 handler/dog teams from each of the four British "nations" (England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales) compete for the International Supreme Championship. They compete on an International course. The teams are chosen by a National Championship in each of the four "countries" and the course for these National Championships is referred to as the National course.

The National Courseconsists of Gathering: sheep are at about 400 yards from handler, dog runs around them (outrun), lifts them quietly and fetches them through a seven yards wide gate (150 yards from handler) to the handler. Sheep are passed behind handler in predetermined direction, which starts the Drive. Handler directs dog to drive sheep 450 yards over a triangular course with two sets of gates. The drive ends in the shedding ring, and the handler has to remain at the post until the sheep are in the shedding ring. If the outrun is shorter than 400 yards the drive should be lengthened so that the total of fetch and drive is 850 yards. In the shedding ring two unmarked sheep are to be shed of by the dog. After the Shed the sheep are reunited in the shedding ring. The handler will proceed to thePen(9x8feet, gate of 8 foot with 6 foot rope). Dog brings sheep to pen and pens them. Handler will hold rope and is not allowed to let go of that rope until pen is completed. Handler will close gate. After releasing sheep handler will close and fasten gate and return to shedding ring.

Dog will bring sheep into shedding ring and one sheep (could be marked) will be shed off by dog and worn to judges satisfaction, this is referred to as the single. Time limit for the National course is 15 minutes. Most Opencourses are similar to the National course, however generally there would be only a shed or a single, not both and the distances would be determined by available fieldsize and to some degree by weather (in the heat of the summer courses are often kept smaller). The International Courseis quite similar except that there a two lots of sheep: the dog is sent for the first lot and fetches them past the fetch gates and then is re-sent for the second lot. Once the two lots (each lot consists of 10 sheep) are combined there again is a drive. After the drive 15 unmarked sheep are shed off so that handler and dog end up with five marked sheep in the shedding ring. After the shed the five marked sheep will be penned. Also the distance of the sheep from handler at the outrun will be 800 yards. This type of course is referred to as a double lift.

In Canada a double lift can be seen on the last day of the Kingston Sheepdog Trials at GrassCreek Park, at the National Finals in Canada, this year at Hawkridge Farm, Morton Ontario(for more information about these visit the Canadian Border Collie Association ). In North America the best dogs compete at the National Finals, organized by USBCHA . 150 of the top North American dogs qualify to run at these finals: for 3 days 50 dogs each compete for a spot in the semi-finals, where 50 dogs compete for a spot in the finals. The two preliminary rounds are run on a National type course and the 20 Final dogs run on an International course. Aside from Open courses there are Novice courses for different stages of the dog and handler experience: Novice Novice classes are designed for absolute beginning handlers and dogs. Generally they consist of a very short outrun, some drive or wear (handler walks ahead of sheep) through a set of fairly close gates and a pen. No handler who has run an open course is allowed to run in Novice Novice. Most handlers move their dogs quite quickly out of Novice and into ProNovice.

Some handlers liking ribbons, prefer to stay in this class as long as possible. The ProNovice course consists generally of a longer outrun, short drive (and possibly short crossdrive), and a pen. It is intended as a second level course for beginning handlers with dogs that have competed successfully in Novice Novice it is also the first level of competition for young dogs of more experienced handlers. Some trials offer a Ranchcourse. A ranch course is the same as the open course but without the shed or single. USBCHA also has a yearly competition for top Nursery dog, which is run around the same time as the National Finals. Dogs less than 3 years old that have qualified can run for the honor of USBCHA Nursery Champion.The qualifying runs are held at various sanctioned trials all over North America. The qualifying course is a Ranch type course (open without shed or single). The Open course is normally like a National Course (see above). It consists of an outrun, lift and fetch; triangular drive, (shed) pen and single. Often if there is a shed there is no single and vice versa. Some Open trials are qualifying trials for the USBCHA Finals.

At every ISDS style trial the handler/dog team start with a full score, each element : outrun, lift, fetch, drive, shed, pen is worth a certain number of points. The judge takes off points for less than perfect work. Each course also has a time limit. Also in some circumstances the team can be excused .... gribbing sheep is one of the transgressions that will most of the time result in a DQ. OLD SHEEPDOG BREEDS OLD SHEEPDOG BREEDS THE CUMBERLAND SHEEPDOG Dogs In Britain, A Description of All native Breeds and Most Foreign Breeds in Britain by Clifford LB Hubbard, 1948: Not much is heard of this breed nowadays although it has been in the north of England for a very considerable time. From the Peak district to the Cheviots, particularly on the eastern side, the Cumberland Sheepdog has been known as a fine working breed. The late Lord Lonsdale was a great admirer of the breed and owned many in his time. Cumberland Sheepdogs had been in his family for more than a hundred years, and it is certain that no man did as much as he for the breed.

He had tried hard to save it from extinction, but in 1899 had to outcross with the German Shepherd Dog; this rescued the race for the time being but a few years ago Lord Lonsdale had disbanded his kennel and given his Cumberlands to farmer friends around Lowther. Cumberland farmers have entered this breed in Sheepdog Trials for at least sixty-five years, indeed, many of the so-called Border Collies which have won awards have really been Cumberland Sheepdogs. In general the breed is much like the Welsh Sheepdog and old working Collie types, and works quietly, quickly and low-to-ground. The head is rather broad and flat, tapering to a muzzle of medium length, with ears falling over to the front or semi-erect and rather small. The body is fairly long and extremely lithe, with light though muscular legs and a low-set tail carried at the trail. The coat is fairly heavy and quite dense, and coloured black with white blaze, chest, feet and tip of tail. In height it is about 20 inches, and its weight ranges from 40-50 pounds.

THE SHETLAND SHEEPDOG (1940s-Style) At around 15 inches, these were taller than the modern Shetland Sheepdog and had a less fluffy coat. The modern Shetland Sheepdog in the UK is 14 - 14.5 inches for show dogs, with many pets being no more than 12 inches. The fluffier coat on the modern pet/show Shetland Sheepdogs demonstrates the divergence of working lines and pet/show lines. The ideal heights of Shetland Sheepdogs has long been a matter of debate. The Scottish Shetland Collie Club (1909) called for 12 inches and this was interpreted as the maximum height. Those shown at Crufts in 1911 were 10-12 inches. Between 1913 and 1914, the Scottish and English Shetland Collie Clubs both set the ideal height as 12 inches. By 1923, 12 - 15 inches was permitted.

In the USA today, 13 - 16 inches is permitted for exhibition quality Shetland Sheepdogs; but in the UK the ideal heights are 14 inches (female) and 14.5 inches (male) and no more than an inch over or under these sizes. THE WELSH SHEEPDOG Dogs In Britain, A Description of All native Breeds and Most Foreign Breeds in Britain by Clifford LB Hubbard, 1948: At one time there existed many sheep-herding dogs peculiar to Wales but to-day the group is decreased to two or three breeds only. The ancient pure breeds of Black-and-Tan-Sheepdog and Welsh Hillman are almost extinct, and the is scarcely ever seen working to-day. The two former breeds were probably descendants of the ancient Covert Hounds or Buck-hounds which were used about a thousand years ago in Wales and later known as Welsh Wolf-hounds; these Hounds were frequently mentioned in, the Welsh Laws of the early tenth century as Gellgy (Gellgi in modern Welsh), and had the highest value of all breeds of dogs recognised by the court of King Hywel Dda (Howell the Good).

The type best known in Wales to-day is one mostly descended from the old Black-and-Tan with an infusion of working Collie blood, a breed really common throughout the north and central Welsh counties This breed is frequently entered in the Sheepdog Trials and is renowned for its efficiency, nimbleness of mind and body, its desire to please and its extreme sensitiveness of rebuke. It does not ordinarily work low-to-ground in the showy manner sometimes seen in the work of the working Collies, but is absolutely trustworthy without affectation. When in the eighteenth century the export of Welsh mutton was one of the principal industries, overland travel was much the cheapest method of sending the sheep out of Wales, and Welsh drovers were very busy on the recognised routes from the mountain grazing lands to the principal English ports with the flocks placed in their charge for sale at the end of their journeys. The drovers would often take with them a half dozen of their Sheepdogs as herders on the narrow roads, guards against highwaymen, and providers of game on the route. The dogs then used would have been the early type of Welsh Sheepdog, one similar to the common breed of Wales to-day but a little higher on the leg and more racily built.

These dogs were used to herd pigs and goats as well as sheep across the border so early as the fifteenth century. Classes for Welsh Sheepdogs are not allotted at dog shows generally and few are exhibited, the breed being purely a working breed. Lately an interest has been taken in the breed with the view of exhibiting it and popularising it as a pet, but great care should be taken that no ï¿½improvementsï¿½ be permitted in the breed for show purposes, as in all breeds originally bred for work exhibition breeding has usually resulted in a refining influence which gradually breeds out the sterling qualities of workmanship. If this should happen to the Welsh Sheepdog it would be a disaster of the first magnitude, as it is an extremely valuable agent of the Welsh farmer. The finest means of exhibiting Welsh Sheepdogs is in their natural medium, the mountain pastures, or the Sheepdog Trials; these were first instituted in Wales in 1873 and came to England in 1876. Advertised Trials attract many of the public, as did the well-known Hyde Park exhibition of Sheepdog skill.

Brown-and-white "Welsh Collie" The head is of moderate length with a perceptible stop (sharper than in the Collie), fairly wide between the ears and flat on the top of the skull; the eyes are usually dark though sometimes ï¿½wallï¿½ or china coloured (occasionally the eyes are odd in colour, in which case far from being regarded as defective they are valued by the sheep farmers); the ears are small and folded over close to the side of the head; the muzzle is fairly long, and never convex or snipy. The body is muscular and lissom, with a fairly long back, deep chest (the breed generally works in comparatively high altitudes) of good breadth, and moderately tucked-up loins; the legs are light and of medium length with compact feet and hard pads; the tail reaches to the hocks, set low and carried down usually, though raised when excited. The coat is of medium length (short on the head and fronts of legs, and longer on the collar, hindquarters and tail), smooth in texture and close-lying. The colours vary in different localities but the most constant is black with white blaze, collar, brisket, feet and tail-tip.

This colour is almost uniform throughout Wales. Other colours are all-black, black-and-tan, tricolour, and merle. Height is approximately 18 inches and weight ranges from the rather leggy but lighter built dog of North Wales weighing 35 pounds to the dogs of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire which are generally about 40-45 pounds. Herding - Stock Dog - Dog Sports and Activities - Canada's Guide to Dogs Photo courtesy of Coultrain Rottweilers General Information Herding livestock is one of the oldest jobs for dogs. There are many breeds of herding dogs as well as many different types of herding. For example, the Border Collie uses what is called "the eye" to work  a glare which asserts their dominance over the sheep. Others are well known for their ability to dart in and nip the heels of cattle. Most of the herding breeds are known as "loose-eyed", unlike the Border Collie and some Kelpies. The British Herding dogs, such as Border Collies, Bearded Collies, English Sheepdogs, Rough and Smooth Collies, and Shetlands, are involved in all kinds of herding work.

One of which is known as "fetching" or "gathering", where the dogs work over large areas of land with their primary function being to fetch the sheep. By far the most popular of the herding dogs is the Border Collie, well known for his ability to run fast and wide to gather large groups and creep up slowly so as not to spook the sheep. He is also known for his amazing response to whistle commands, sometimes from as far as a mile away. Continental Herding Dogs include the German Shepherds, Bouviers des Flandres, Belgian Sheepdogs, and others. In Germany and some central European areas, sheep are raised on small farms and graze in pastures right next to crop fields. In these situations, the herding dog's job is to patrol the boundaries, protecting the crops from the sheep. Another function for these dogs is to protect the sheep from predators. This style of herding is commonly called boundary work. Like the British herding dogs, however, the Continental breeds are also involved in all types of herding  driving, fetching, driving, etc. Cattle dogs, of many different breeds, are used all over the world to help move a herd.

They drive the herd, biting on the heels if necessary, and move them until they settle. Cattle dogs generally work the livestock by "heeling", by moving them from behind. These dogs are also very protective of their master and property. A cattle herding dog is very intelligent, courageous, trustworthy and has a strong desire to work. One good example of a cattle dog is the Australian Cattle Dog which has been bred for over 160 years specifically to work cattle. Livestock guarding breeds include the Anatolian Shepherd, Akbash, Great Pyrenees, Komondor, and Maremma. These dogs all originated in Europe and Asia and have been used for centuries to protect livestock from predators like wolves and bears. The Guarding dog's primary function is to protect and not to herd the livestock. These dogs stay with their flock all the time and will aggressively guard them at any cost. With an instinct to protect motivating them to do their job, they work quite independently of humans. It has been said that the Guarding dog "adopts" his flock as though they were family members. Herding Instinct Test The first step taken for most dogs and their handlers is to participate in a Herding Instinct Test.

This test, as the name suggests, tests the dog's instinct to herd. It allows you to see how your dog works, his drives, style, strengths, and weaknesses. During the test, a qualified tester will assess the dog and give you helpful information, tips, and strategies on how to work with your dog. The Instinct Test is usually done in a round pen. This is to ensure that the sheep don't hold up in a corner, making it more difficult for an inexperienced dog to move them.  Occasionally, however, a larger space is more suitable for some dogs who appear pressured in the small round pen. The dog is brought in on leash with the evaluator or tester taking the dog and introducing him to the sheep. The evaluator observes how the dog and sheep react to one another and will determine if and when the leash should be removed. The dog is encouraged to move to and among the sheep as the evaluator judges the dog's actions. During the Instinct Test, the evaluator is watching to see if the dog is non-aggressive, watching the stock, and controlling or trying to control the sheep's movements. The tester evaluates whether the dog is "gathering" the sheep or trying to "drive" them.

The tester will also watch the way the dog approaches the sheep; whether the dog likes to work wide or close; whether he barks or works quietly; if the dog is easily distracted or adjusts well to direction; how responsive the dog is to the evaluator; whether the dog groups the sheep or tries to split them up; and whether the dog has a natural "balance" on sheep. Another variation of the Herding Instinct Test involves the use of five or six ducks as opposed to sheep. In this situation, the tester takes the dog on leash behind the flock and tries to encourage the dog to keep the flock together and move them at a slow, steady pace around the enclosure. Depending on the dog's response, the exercise may be attempted off-leash as well. Once a dog has had his instinct tested and has shown evidence of herding instinct, the next step is to find a facility and trainer. The trainer will provide individual instruction and attention to both the handler and the dog, and the training facility should have stock suitable for beginners as well as those who are more advanced. The Herding Instinct Test is not a CKC recognized test and is open to all breeds, registered as well as non-registered.

Herding Trials  CKC Herding Level Requirements The Canadian Kennel Club Herding Trials are open only to registered CKC dogs. Judges determine the order of obstacles for each course. All trial levels require three qualifying legs under two judges and a core of 75 points, as well as the successful completion of each exercise. Handlers may not walk around any fenceline obstacles in these tests. Herding Tested  HT (non-competitive class) Two qualifying legs are required under two judges. Sheep are in the arena where the dog must pick them up in a calm, controlled manner. Once the dog has brought the sheep to the handler, the handler can walk around each obstacle, with the dog working steadily to keep the sheep gathered as they move around the course. The dog must demonstrate a brief pause, stop or down somewhere along the way. At the end of the course, the sheep are re-penned. The judge is in the arena and may walk with the handler or stand to one side. Judges may make suggestions, but may not handle the dog. No points are awarded.

Herding Started  HS Handlers demonstrate their dogs' skills in controlling the sheep on a fenceline and stopping when asked, even if "off-balance," and their ability to take livestock out of a pen. There are three obstacles that the handler cannot walk through, and one chute that the handler can. The dog has to demonstrate a hold at the exhaust pen and then help re-pen the sheep. Herding Intermediate  HI The dog must take the flock from the pen, then dog and handler must wait until the judge feels the sheep have settled sufficiently, the dog is called off the stock, calmly and under complete control of the handler. Next, the dog is placed approximately 50 feet from the sheep to perform an "outrun," where the dog leaves the handler and runs in a wide arc toward and behind the flock, to get the sheep moving toward the handler. The "lift" occurs when the sheep begin to move calmly toward the handler, with the dog moving in a straight line and at a steady pace. Obstacle work follows, after which there is a small drive using the fenceline to help control the stock as the dog moves them ahead of the handler in a straight line.

Finally, the sheep are herded through a freestanding chute, held in place next to the exhaust pen, then driven into the pen to complete the test. Herding Advanced  HA There is a "take" pen, a drive and settle, a 150-foot outrun, lift, fetch, three fenceline obstacles, a free-standing obstacle and an exhaust pen. There is a handler's line, which must run through the centre point of the arena in any direction. At certain parts of the test, the handler cannot cross this line but must direct the dog from the centre of the arena as the dog herds the stock around obstacles at the far end of the arena. When working close to the dog, the handler cannot walk through any obstacle. Dogs must work calmly and leave calmly when called off the stock. The American Kennel Club Test/Trial Program This AKC program offers test, pre-trial and trial classes. Titles are earned with two passing runs for the test (HT) and pre-trial (PT) levels. For the trial level, three qualifying scores under different judges must be earned for each of the three classes  Started (HS), Intermediate (HI) and advanced (HX (Herding Excellent)).

Once the HX title has been completed, a herding trial championship (HCh.) can be earned. There are three different types of trial courses: "A", "B" and "C"). Titles are not differentiated by type of stock or course. The "A" course takes place in an arena and requires working livestock through obstacles and into a pen. The "B" course is a modified Border Collie course requiring an outrun, lift, fetch, wear/drive, pen and, in the advanced class, a shed. The "C" course reflects herding as done in Europe with large flocks in unfenced areas, although recently the course has been changed to reflect more specifically German trial practices. Ducks, sheep or cattle may be used on certain of the courses. All AKC Herding Group breeds, plus Samoyeds and Rottweilers, are eligible. AHBA Trial/Test Herding Programs The American Herding Breed Association (AHBA) herding program includes two trial classes, each with three levels, as well as a test program with two levels.

Herding Trial Dog (HTD)  Levels I, II, and III and Herding Ranch Dog (HRD)  Levels I, II, III Requires two qualifying scores under two different judges. The titles are earned separately based on the type of course and type of stock. Stock used may be sheep, goats, ducks, geese, or cattle (except that HRD classes may not use ducks). A small initial after the title indicates the type of stock on which the title was earned. Trials are open to all breeds. The HTD classes take place on a standard course and all levels include an outrun, lift, fetch, wear and/or drive, and pen which may be on the fence for the started level but is free-standing for the higher levels. At level I, the outrun is short and the handler may accompany the dog and sheep throughout the course. At Level II, the outrun is longer and the handler may accompany the dog only partway. At Level III, the outrun is longer still and the handler remains at the handler's post until time to pen, in addition, after the pen, there is an additional exercise of removing a ribbon from a marked sheep.

HTD trials are designed to be held in large fields, however, may be held in arenas with special permission. The HRD classes take place on courses which very in detail with specified requirements. Levels are differentiated by such things as the position of the handler, variation in tasks or addition of tasks. Exercises include a gather, fetch/drive work, pen work, sorting work (required for Level III), and various elements such as chutes, bridges, holding the stock in place, etc. HRD trials may use a combination of open fields, arenas, and pens. Herding Trial Championship (HTCh.) The HTCh. title is earned by obtaining 10 additional qualifying scores of 80 or above in the advanced classes, after the completion of an HTD III or HRD III title. These scores may be earned on either or both HTD and HRD courses, and may be earned on one type of stock or on any combination of types of stock, with up to 3 scores allowed on ducks. Herding Capability Test (HCT) and Junior Herding Dog Test (JHD) The HCT and JHD is done on a pass/non-pass basis and requires two passing runs under different judges.

The events are open to all herding breeds. Tests may be held on sheep, goats, ducks, geese, or, with special approval, cattle; unlike the trial titles, legs earned on different types of stock may count toward a single title. For the HCT, the first leg may consist of a basic instinct test in a small arena with the tester allowed to handle the dog. The second leg requires an initial pause, some simple, controlled movement of the stock back and forth across the small arena, a stop, and a recall; for the second leg, the handler, not the tester, must handle the dog, although the tester may give advice. The JHD test is held in a larger arena and the dog is handled by the handler, although the tester may give advice. There is a simple course through which the stock is taken, consisting of two corner panel obstacles and a free-standing panel obstacle in the center of the arena, ending with the sheep being put into a fence-line pen. The handler may accompany the sheep and dog throughout the course.

ASCA Stock Dog Program The Australian Shepherd Club of America Stock Dog Program was established to preserve and promote the inherited herding instinct of the Australian Shepherd as well as to stimulate interest in the natural working ability of the breed through the use of certification programs and rigorous trial competitions. Three levels of training are offered: The Started Division with a title of STD earned, Open with a title of OTD, and Advanced earning a title of ATD. The dogs progress from started through open and advanced on three classes of stock (cattle, sheep, and ducks). Small letters after the title indicate the stock for which the title was earned. Dogs who have earned an ATD in all classes earn the title of Working Trial Chamion (WTCH). A post advanced title is the PATD. There are also trials offered for Novice Handlers and Juniors. The Ranch Dog (RD) title is earned by a ranch dog who demonstrates an ability to be of great assistance to their owners. Ranch Trials are also offered where dogs can earn the title of RTD. The ASCA stock dog trials are open to all breeds. USBCHA Sanctioned Trials The United States Border Collie Handlers' Association, Inc.

(USBCHA) is the sanctioning body for sheepdog trials throughout the United States and Canada. The trials follow the pattern of the trial in Great Britain's International Sheep Dog Society, the original registry for Border Collies. Specific requirements may vary from trial to trial, as may the name of the class. Titles are not given in connection with these trials. Summary of Titles

Question: Which dogs are mostly used at sheep dog trials
Answer: Border Collies